Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-09-06
Tuesday, September 8, 1857.
INCORPORATION


some More False Arguments Refuted.
Among the resident property owners
Of moderate means In u town we
find there are some who are afraid
that II we become incorporated they
they will be subjected TO heavy x
pense for useless sidewalks, gutter,
paving and other public improve
ments, against their will. The pro.
visions of the Incorporation bill are
made q nearly protective to the poor
man In this regard. as IL possible and
are. that no improvement Of this
nature can be ordered by the board Of
aldermen, unless the same has been
petitioned for by q majority of res
ident property owners on each side Of
the street and by the resident owners
Of at least one half the frontage Of the
street to be improved. When Q ma
jority of the resident owners, and the
owners of one half the frontage of a
street ask for an improvement Of this
kind, 1t Is then accepted as the wish
az those interested that the improve.
ment should be made, and II Is then
ordered by the council and the cost is
apportioned TO the property improved
80 that no owner pays more than his
proper share of the improvement. 1t
is true that ever under this equitable
provision some poor man may be conf
PEELED to build Q 81 dewalk against his
wishes. but such cases must 10 the ma
ture of things be extremely isolated,
but 50 far Is the fear Is concerned that
great stretches Of of sidewalk can be
built at the expense of residents
scattered along the line. II lie utterly
groundless. Nonresident owners
have nothing to say as to whether the
Improvements are made or not, but II
they are made al the request Of res
ident owners the nonresident have
to pay their share. And IL Ia further
provided that any person owning
property SO improved may pay bis
share either In labor or material at
market rates, 30 the poor man. II be is
% disposed, can furnish his own lum.
Der and build his own sidewalk.
-
AS some persons who are opposed to
incorporation are industriously engag.
ed in circulating false reports, regard.
ing the amount Of city taxes that may
be levied against property owners, we
desire to give to the public the correct
figures on this point. The incorpor-
alton bill provides that In cities of the
second class-which Is the class that
Miles City will be in-the maximum
rate Of corporation taxes that can be
levied In any n year, is one per cent.
Of the assessed valuation OF the pro.
perty, which lie ten dollars on each
thousand. and the total amount Of
Indebtedness authorized shall not ex.
coed two per cent. Of the assessed
valuation. These are points upon
which many have been misinformed
either wilfuIly or otherwise, and as
they are vital points to a community,
we think 1t well that they should
know the truth. II the power TO
pile up q big Indebtedness and to In.
crease taxation at will, were vested in
the council, there would. be good
grounds for opposition to incorpors-
ton, but rs these powers are wisely
limited to a very small amount in each
case, there ceases to be any argument
on these points. AS the assessed vaiu-
alton Of property is commonly not
more than fifty or seventy-fve per
cent. Of Its true value, the limit Of
tax alton is shrnnk TO q half or three.
quarter of one per cent, and we don't
believe there is a property owner In
town who would not willingly pay
that much for the benefits Of incor-
poration.
Another argument made by the OPP
ponents Of incorporation is that II In
corporated we shall be saddled with
an army Of high salraied officials who
do nothing and live of the people.
Here again they make assertions
which have no foundation In fact.
The law provides that In cities Of the
second class the mayor and aldermen
receive no pay whatever for their ser.
vices. The only salaries fixed are fol
police justice who is paid not to ex'
coed six hundred dollars q year, and 9
city attorney who is paid not to ex'
coed four hundred dollars q year
Whichever other officials may be
necessary are elected by the council
who fix their pay. aud II we elect M
economical board Of aldermen, We car
rely upon II that the expenses from